Page 110 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

Dylan crossed his arms.

“It’s a little strange.” His voice stayed light, but his eyes carried dangerous curiosity. “Kaylani didn’t tell me why she needed to come here so suddenly.”

Nathaniel smiled like he had been trained, the warmth never reaching his eyes.

“You don’t need the details.” Nathaniel’s tone remained polite, but a hard edge ran underneath it. “You’re being paid for space, not inquisitiveness. Is that a problem?”

Dylan’s jaw flexed. The air between them shifted. Nathaniel hadn’t said the words, but a threat hung there, clear enough for Dylan to understand.

“Understood. No issue at all.” Dylan didn’t look like he believed Nathaniel, but didn’t press for more. “I actually came down to extend the dinner invitation. My father insisted.”

“How could I say no when you’ve been so generous.”

“Very good.” Dylan looked around. “Where’s Kaylani?”

“Bathroom. Is there anything else? If not, I need to finish having a word with my head of security.”

The title pressed down on me. It felt important and like a punch to the face at the same time. It reminded me of what I was.

What I am.

What I had hoped to become. I was a soldier. Like a cord being yanked, I snapped back to reality, and the label burned like a brand on my skin for the world to see.

“Sorry.” Dylan began to back away.

I stared after him.

“I envy that.”

Nathaniel screwed up his face. “What? Being a sniveling coward?”

I glared at him.

“No. I mean the power you hold. He was fucking terrified of you, and you didn’t have to lift a finger.”

His eyes met mine.

“And here I thought you were just jealous of my superior sense of style.”

“Jerk,” I grumbled, teasingly. I loved that despite everything, we still defaulted to friendship.

When Kaylani returned, the three of us chatted about the plan for dinner tonight and what came next.

An hour later, I stood outside the trailer waiting for Kaylani to finish getting ready for dinner. I was once more wearing my suit loaded with hidden weapons. It felt familiar now, like a second skin.

The door opened, and one word settled into my bones.

Mine.

Mine wasn’t ownership. It was a promise written in blood and consequence.

I would bleed for her. Kill for her. Destroy for her. And anyone who tried to step between us would learn the difference.

The world didn’t know who she was to me. But anyone who tried to take her from me would know exactly how far I was willing to go to keep her by my side.

“You look stunning,” I said, as she stepped out in a red cocktail dress. My gaze moved up and down her body. “Do you have a whole wardrobe hiding in there?”

She smiled as I helped her down the steps.